Official Artemis II 'Rise' moon mascot goes on sale through NASA exchange
collectSPACE.com • • science
Key Points:
- The "Rise" plush toy, a fan-designed mascot flown on the Artemis II mission to the moon, is now available for purchase as a NASA-approved collectible, with proceeds supporting agency employee morale activities.
- Designed by nine-year-old Lucas Ye, Rise honors the iconic "Earthrise" photo from Apollo 8 and features a cap resembling Earth rising over the moon, as well as a rocket and star constellation symbolizing the Orion spacecraft.
- The official plush differs from the flown version in materials and construction, and it is unclear if the collectible includes a zippered pocket that held an SD card with names of millions signed up for the mission.
- Priced at $24.99, the Rise plush and related merchandise such as patches, pins, and apparel are sold through NASA's employee-run exchange store, with delivery times up to eight weeks due to production schedules.
- The launch of the official Rise merchandise comes amid numerous unauthorized sales online, with NASA holding copyright and regulating reproduction under its merchandise guidelines.
